The race for the chief minister’s seat has resumed in Karnataka after Governor Thawarchand Gehlot sanctioned CM Siddaramaiah’s prosecution over allegations of irregularities in the allocation of sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
The move was expected, according to political experts, but it was certainly a setback for the two-time chief minister who, until the MUDA allegations, stayed away from controversies involving him or his immediate family. With the sanction, the Chief Minister’s Office said it would take legal action based on the advice of the government’s most senior lawyers.
“Chief minister Siddaramaiah will continue, and there is no question of him stepping down,” an official from the CMO told News18.
According to Congress spokesperson Ramesh Babu, every combination and permutation in the law will be analyzed to counter this “false allegation” against the chief minister.
“We have enough evidence and data to show how, in the cases of previous chief ministers like HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yediyurappa, sanctions were not given because of political pressure. A strong legal team also has a strong strategy on how to fight this and bring Siddaramaiah out of the woods .This is a politically motivated move; one that Raj Bhavan is taking very quickly and we are sure to overturn it in court,” Babu told News18.
Even though the Congress came to power in Karnataka with a victory of 135 out of 224 seats in the 2024 assembly polls, shadow boxing between Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar’s camp has been going on for some time now. It is learned that the Congress high command chose Siddaramaiah over Shivakumar to lead the state based on his seniority, experience and the fact that he is still considered the top AHINDA leader in the state – the vote bank that supports the party. power with beautiful victory.
However, there have been several visits and meetings with senior party leaders by the Shivakumar camp, lobbying for Siddaramaiah to be replaced by Shivakumar as chief minister. A compromise formula was reportedly worked out where, after two and a half years of rule, and when Shivakumar was able to clear the ED case against him, the post of power could be handed over to him.
“Maybe they will spill their blood, but there is no doubt that Siddaramaiah will continue for another year. Under the joint leadership of Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, the election was won and the Congress is here,” said a senior Congress leader who did not wish to be named.
The opposition BJP and JDS in Karnataka, which have been holding a week-long padayatra against Siddaramaiah demanding his immediate resignation, will resume their protest on Monday to once again pressurize the leader to step down due to the Governor’s sanction, BJP sources told News18.
A top BJP source also said that “there is not much chance of the government in Karnataka being overthrown as the number of seats is huge on the Congress side”. “But the continuity of the chief minister cannot be done,” the source added.
The state BJP leaders, along with their alliance partner JDS, have planned another sustained protest to demand immediate leave of Siddaramaiah from the CM chair ‘on moral grounds’.
“We will strategize to carry out a series of protests against Siddaramaiah. Our continuous efforts to highlight corruption in the Congress, misbehavior, and misuse of the Chief Minister’s Office for personal gain have finally been proven. The governor’s sanction is yet another endorsement that our struggle for justice for the people of Karnataka are right,” said a senior BJP leader.
Political analyst Sandeep Shastri said the move from Raj Bhavan was on the expected lines.
“It is only a matter of time before the Governor will sanction the prosecution; however, it will definitely be a setback for Siddaramaiah,” he said.
Shastri added that the Congress would take legal steps, but he was of the opinion that the party would not take any drastic decision, like changing the chief minister, at this time.
“This means that they are succumbing to the pressure of the opposition BJP and JDS. If the unwritten power-sharing agreement is correct, the Congress can take a decision closer to that time. It is clear that the Congress will not respond to changing the chief minister just because the Governor has sanctioned the prosecution,” he said. told News18.
Based on a complaint filed by RTI activist TJ Abraham, Gehlot has sanctioned prosecution under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 18 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita.
The Chief Minister’s Office, confirming the receipt of the sanction letter, said it would take legal action, and that Siddaramaiah’s team had been seeking a legal opinion since the day the first complaint was sent to the Raj Bhavan by Abraham.
Speaking from Madikeri to Bengaluru, Abraham said his actions have been taken. He has a date in the special court for people’s representatives on August 21, where he will argue why the sanction given by the Governor is also within the law and also seek permission from the court to approve the sanction, thereby forcing Siddaramaiah to resign. directly.
“I am sure that the court will give me the appropriate order and this will lead to the right step where the person accused of wrongdoing will have to resign,” said Abraham.